'More Perfect,' a podcast about the Supreme Court

This month, we take a up-close look at the Supreme Court. How does an elite group of nine people shape everything from marriage and money, to safety and sex for an entire nation? A spinoff series from "Radiolab," "More Perfect" dives into the rarefied world of the Supreme Court to explain how cases deliberated inside hallowed halls affect lives far away from the bench.

First, how the Supreme Court got so supreme. In the first episode, "Kittens Kick The Giggly Blue Robot All Summer," we'll go all the way back to a case that, in a lot of ways, started it all. Join us for the first in the series this Sunday, October 1 at 7 p.m.

"The Political Thicket" | Sunday, October 8 at 7 p.m.

On this episode, the case that pushed one Supreme Court justice to a nervous breakdown, brought a boiling feud to a head and changed the course of the court forever.

"Object Anyway" | Sunday, October 15 at 7 p.m.

More on the Supreme Court ruling that was supposed to prevent race-based jury selection, but may have only made the problem worse.

"The Imperfect Plaintiffs" | Sunday, October 22 at 7 p.m.

More about the figurative side door to the Supreme Court that has allowed individuals to influence policy for the many.

"Cruel and Unusual" | Sunday, October 29 at 7 p.m.

On the final episode in the series, exploring three little words embedded in the 8th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution: "cruel and unusual."